Google & University of Hawaii render AI-Powered Career Guidance

• AI-driven platform matches UH students to Hawaii job opportunities.
• Uses Google Cloud, Vertex AI, and Gemini to analyze skills and labor data.
• Focus on retaining graduates locally and supporting underrepresented groups.

Students at the University of Hawaii (UH) will receive personalized career advice connected to regional job opportunities, courtesy of a new collaboration between the university and Google Public Sector.

The project will test an AI-driven platform aimed at assisting students in aligning their skills and interests with job opportunities in the islands. It will utilize products such as Google Cloud and tools such as Vertex AI and Gemini to examine labor market data and create personalized student profiles.

Based on a news announcement on Wednesday, the platform utilizes a student's education, certifications, work experience, and expressed preferences to reveal possible career options and associated academic programs in Hawaii. UH and Google expressed their hope that the platform will assist graduates in starting careers within the state instead of moving to the mainland.

Hawaii's unemployment rate in 2025 has stayed low, staying below 3 percent, despite variations in job growth, as stated in state economic reports. Although the median household income in Hawaii surpasses that of many states, cost-of-living indexes place Hawaii among the priciest locations to reside in. As stated in the news release, recent graduates may face difficulties securing entry-level positions with salaries that align with these elevated living expenses, exacerbating ongoing worries about “brain drain.”

According to the announcement, UH and Google also intend to minimize obstacles to employment for underrepresented communities. The university has begun utilizing Google Translate for Pacific Island languages, such as Hawaiian, Māori, and Samoan, allowing students to receive career guidance in their mother tongue. Through the incorporation of cultural and language accessibility, UH and Google expressed their intention to enhance the link between local employers and a qualified, local talent pool.

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The career pathways initiative enhances UH’s involvement in the Grow with Google program, started in February, offering students and staff access to training in AI skills, career certifications, and Gemini. The career certificate program offers qualifications in areas such as data analytics, IT support, user experience design, AI, and cybersecurity, all intended to be finished online in less than six months.

“This is a valuable opportunity for our community to develop in-demand AI skills and stay ahead in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape,” Wendy Hensel, president of the UH system, said.

The updated career pathways platform acts as the next phase, enabling graduates with these skills and credentials to more readily access local job opportunities.